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  • Title: Reported adverse effects of oral contraceptives on the eye.
    Author: Davidson SI.
    Journal: Trans Ophthalmol Soc U K (1962); 1971; 91():561-74. PubMed ID: 5291550.
    Abstract:
    112 cases of ocular complications related to oral contraceptive therapy have been reported in Great Britain since 1964 for an overall prevalence of 0.07%. These have been divided into 6 main groups: 15 cases of cerebro-vascular disturbances with ocular symptoms; 23 apparently neurological cases with signs and symptoms localized to the eye and orbit; 21 cases of localized vascular disease, including occlusion of a retinal arteriole and of retinal veins; 34 cases of visual disturbances of mild localized symptomatology; 5 cases of contact lens intolerance, 4 after 10-14 months use of oral contraceptives; and a miscellaneous group of 14 cases of a spectrum of ocular disturbances. Some of the adverse effects reported have been related to oral contraceptives (1) by experimental evidence (examples: retinal vascular involvement, vertebro-basilar stroke syndrome) or (2) because they also occur with pregnancy (optic neuritis). There seems to be a connection between migraine and focal cerebral ischemia and patients taking oral contraceptives. A history of migraine or intraocular vascular disease is considered a contraindication to oral contraceptive therapy. Prospective studies have not shown a relationship of oral contraceptives to ocular abnormalities. Incidence of these disturbances may be so low that large numbers of patients will have to be studied before a relationship, if any, is established.
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